OBJECTIVEto investigate the effects of clotrimazole on the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODSOSCC-25 cells growing in log phase were treated with various doses of clotrimazole. The concentration of IC(50), cell cycle and cell cycle related protein were examined.

RESULTSthe concentration of clotrimazole for inhibiting OSCC was IC(50) 8.51 µmol/L. Clotrimazole induced cell cycle arrest in the G(0)-G(1) cell cycle phase, with a concomitant decrease of cells in the G(2)-M and S-phase. Furthermore, clotrimazole significantly decreased the levels of cyclin D, cyclin E and CDK-4.

CONCLUSIONSclotrimazole inhibits the growth of OSCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Clotrimazole ; pharmacology ; Cyclin E ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Wnt5b in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its correlation with the clinicopathological parameters.

METHODSQuantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were employed to measure Wnt5b mRNA and protein expressions in two groups of HBV-related HCC patients (100 cases in each) selected from a cohort of 289 cases with HBV-related HCC using simple random sampling method. The correlation of Wnt5b expression with the clinicopathological parameters and the prognosis of HCC patients was analyzed.

RESULTSWnt5b mRNA expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues in 65.0% (65/100) of the cases, and the positivity rate of Wnt5b protein was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues (58.0% vs 22.0%, P<0.05). Wnt5b expression was significantly correlated with the tumor size (P<0.05), tumor number (P<0.01, only at the protein level), tumor differentiation (P<0.01, only at the protein level), TNM stage (P<0.05), BCLC stage (P<0.05), metastasis (P<0.05) and recurrence (P<0.01). The patients with up-regulated Wnt5b mRNA and protein had a shorter relapse-free survival (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONs Up-regulated Wnt5b might contribute to the progression of HBV-related HCC and predicts a poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo develop quality of life questionnaire of Chinese medicine for postoperative patients with colorectal cancer (QLQ-CMPPCC), thus comprehensively and objectively evaluating the clinical efficacy of Chinese medicine and pharmacy in treating postoperative patients with colorectal cancer (CC).

METHODSThe theoretical structure model of the questionnaire was addressed in combined with basic theories of Chinese medicine according to the principle of WHO quality of life (QOL). The primary questionnaire was developed using methods of structuralization policy making after we extensively retrieve various universal and specific questionnaires for CC cancer patients at home and abroad. The 205 CC patients were tested by questionnaire. The items were screened using experts grading method, item selection analysis, dispersion trends of standard deviation, t-test, correlation coefficient method, factor analysis,and Cronbach's alpha.

RESULTSThe QLQ-CMPPCC was developed containing four domains of physical, psychological, independence, and social functions, involving 20 aspects and 54 items. Of them, non-fistula patients answered 43 items and fistula patients answered 46 items. One item covered the general QOL evaluation.

CONCLUSIONSQLQ-CMPPCC showed Chinese medical features. It comprehensively reflected the connotation of QOL for postoperative CC patients. It could be taken as a tool for evaluating Chinese medical efficacy for postoperative CC patients.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Postoperative Period ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Tongmai decoction on the perioperative changes of serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with femoral fractures, and conform the effectiveness of Tongmai decoction on inflammatory factors in patients with femoral fractures, providing the theoretical evidence for the clinical use of Tongmai decoction.

METHODSFrom October 2007 to May 2009, 60 patients with closed traumatic femoral fractures were selected according to the inclusion criterias and exclusion criterias. All the patients were randomly divided into three groups (group A, group B and group C). Twenty patients in group A (Tpanax Notoginseng pill group), 13 patients were male and 7 patients were female; ranging in age from 20 to 45 years, averaged 32.0 years; the disease course ranged from 2.0 to 26.0 h, with an average of 9.5 h. Twenty patients in group B (Tpanax Notoginseng pills and Lornoxicam injection group),12 patients were male and 8 patients were female; ranging in age from 23 to 42 years, averaged 31.0 years; the disease course ranged from 3.5 to 25.0 h, with an average of 13.6 h. Twenty patients in group C (Tpanax Notoginseng pill, Lornoxicam injection and Tongmai decoction group), 14 patients were male and 6 patients were female; ranging in age from 21 to 44 years, averaged 31.5 years; the disease course ranged from 4.6 to 29.0 h, with an average of 13.3 h. Among all the patients, 42 patients with fractures were fixed with femoral intramedullary nailing, and other 18 patients with femoral locking plate fixation. The patients in group A took Tpanax Notoginseng pills orally, 4 g each time and twice daily; the patients in group B took Tpanax Notoginseng pills orally as group A, and at the same time received intramuscular injection of Lornoxicam, 8 mg each time and once daily; the patients in group C took Tpanax Notoginseng pills orally and received intramuscular injection of Lornoxicam as group B, and at the same time took Tongmai decoction (R ) orally, 200 ml each time and twice daily. The above medications were administered to the three groups on the second day after admission to hospital. Peripheral blood samples were taken for determination of pro-inflammatory cytokines of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in blood serum on the 2nd and 6th days before operation and on the 8th and 13th days after operation. And all the patients were evaluated liver and kidney function at the 2nd and 7th days after admission. Analysis of variance and least significant difference-test were done with the help of SPSS 17.0 statistic software.

RESULTSThe differences among three groups of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in blood serum at the 2nd day after admission and 2 days after operation had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels among 3 groups had statistical differences at the 7th day after admission and at the 7th day after operation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There were significant differences of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels between the 7th day after admission and the 2nd day after admission, the 7th day after operation and the 2nd day after admission (P < 0.01). There were also significant differences of TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels between group C compared with group A and B at the 7th day after admission and the 7th day after operation(P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 level significantly increased in perioperative period. The results indicate that the Tongmai decoction may play an important role in inhibiting the release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 into the blood stream and decreasing the incunabula complication at early traumatic stage.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Fractures, Closed ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the expression of DD3 mRNA in the prostate tissues.

METHODSDD3 mRNA was detected by realtime fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) based on the Taqman technique in the tissues of 27 patients with non-prostate cancer( NPCa), 21 prostate cancer( PCa), 39 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 15 normal prostate (NP). The ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of DD3 mRNA.

RESULTSDD3 mRNA expression was not detected in the NPCa tissues. The median expressions of DD3 mRNA in PCa, BPH and NP tissues were 7. 2 x 10(6), 2. 5 x 10(4) and 1.5 x 10(4) copies/mg tissue, respectively. The DD3 mRNA expression levels were significantly different between nonmalignant and malignant tissues (P < 0.01). No significant differences in DD3 mRNA expression were detected between the NP and BPH tissues and no significant correlation was found between the DD3 mRNA expression and clinical pathological parameters. The AUC-ROC was 0.937 (95% CI: 0.879 - 0.995) at cutoff value 1.4 x 10(5) copies/mg tissue. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for DD3 were 90.5%, 85.0%, 86.7%, 76.0%, 94.3%, 6.03 and 0.11 respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe DD3 mRNA expression is confined to prostate tissues and highly upregulated in PCa tissues. It has a potential application value in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer and the follow-up of the patient.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; ROC Curve ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the in vitro effects of different culture systems on hematopoietic differentiation ability of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.

METHODTwo culture systems including E8 and mTESR(freeder-free medium), and the classical ES culture medium were chosen for culture of iPS cells. The iPS cells maintaining in above mentioning culcure systems were co-cultured with OP9 cells(murine bone marrow stromal cells) in vitro to be induced to differentiate into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Flow cytometry and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of specific hematopoietic markers and the effects of different culture systems on the differentiation of iPS in vitro.

RESULTiPS cultured in the 3 selected medium could be differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells. Efficiency of hematopoietic differentiation was up to 28.4% in classical ES culture system, which was significantly higher than that in E8 and mTESR system.

CONCLUSIONUnder the co-culture with OP9, iPS can differentiate into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which shows higher efficiency when iPS maintained in the ES medium.